Rail-support for railways



(No Model.)

'D. ATWOOD.

RAIL SUPPORT FOR RAIL'WAYS.

Patented Nov. 1, 1887.

' Inventor:

Witnesses.-

- V N. PETERS. PhMo-Ulhognphon Wathingtcn, D. t;

.UNIT D STATES PATENT Orrics.

DUSTIN ATvVOOD, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

RAI L-SUPPO RT FOR RA! LWAYS.

EBPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,284, datedNovember 1, 1887.

Application filed August 7, 1886. Serial No. 210,275. (No model.)

accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to secure in place and bracerailway-rails.

In the accompanying drawings like letters designate the same or similarparts in the sev eral figures.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of my improved rail-support in connectionwith the rail shown in cross-section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of thesame and a portion of the rail to which it is applied. Fig. 3 is a view,like that shown in Fig. 1, of a modified form of the rail-supportdesigned to elevate the rail above the tie; and Fig. 4 is a like view ofa modification designed for use with a chair shown in connectiontherewith.

My invention is designed for use with a girder-rail having a head andbase connected by a vertical stem or web, and is especially applicableto the so-called Johnson rail, in which the head is formed in twoplanes-an outer or higher portion or tread for the carwheels and theinner and lower portion or tram.

The girder-rail possesses certain well-known advantages over theordinary flat or tram rail employed in street-railways; but-it has beenfound difficult heretofore to securely fasten and support it in place,especially that form shown in thedrawings, and its practical utility hasthus been greatly impaired. The carwheels running on the unsupportedtread b of the railoutside of the central supporting-web, I), have atendency to tip the rail outward and thus loosen its fastenings.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 13 represents a girder-rail of the formcommonly known as the Johnson rail, havingthehead composed of the tram band tread b, a base, I), and central stem or web, 12 A is a block,preferably made of cast-iron and formed with ahorizontal flange, a,which rests upon the tie D, and is perforated to receive thefastening-spikes dd, and with the upright portion a, which bears at itsupper end against the lower side of the head underneath the tread b ofthe rail B, and thus braces said rail both laterally and vertically andprevents it from being crowded over and its fastenings loosened.

Referring to Fig. 3, a modification of block A is shown, in which therail Bis elevated above the tie D,.and rests upon a shoulder, a formedfor the purpose on said block A,which is cut away or grooved to receivethe outer flange of the base b of said rail. By this means the ordinarychairs upon which the rail is raised are dispensed with, and the rail iselevated, as required, for the purposes of paving about it. The shouldera may be made of any height to elevate the rail, as desired, toaccommodate the surrounding pavement. The rail and block may be fastenedon the inside by a spike, d, passing through a perforated projection, a,formed on said block.

In Fig. 4 is shown a modification of myinr proved rail-support designedfor use with a. chair, 0, upon which rails of the form shown anddescribed have heretofore been raised when it was desired to elevatethem above the ties. The block A is cut away to fit over one side of thechair 0 and the adjacent ear, 0, which is formed on said chair to claspthe base I) of the rail.

The several forms of the block A shown in the drawings may, whendesired, be strengthened bya vertical web or rib, (1 formed in theexterior angle between the flange a and the upright portion a of saidblock, although it is not necessary, especially when pavement is used.

The outer face of the upright portion a of block A being in a' verticalor nearly vertical plane within or near a vertical plane touching theouter edge of the tread b of the rail B allows paving blocks to be laidsnugly up against the rail along its entire length.

I claim- 1. The combination, with a girder-rail having a head, ahorizontal base, and a vertical stem connecting said head and base, of ablock ICO having a broad seat adapted to said base, a horizontal flangeadapted to rest upon and be secured to the rail-bed, and an uprightsupport bearing against the under side of the head of said rail, withits outer face within or near a vertical plane touching the outer sideof said head, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, with a railway-rail having a laterally-projectinghorizontal base, a vertical web, and a tread, the horizontal center ofwhich is not directly above said web, of a broad supporting-seat for thebase of said rail, a block having a broad base-flange secured to theroad-bed, and an upright portion bearing against and supporting theunder side of the head of the rail, and having its outer face within ornear a vertical plane touching the outer edge of the head of said railsubstantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

DUSTIN AIWOOD.

Witnesses:

GEORGE GoLL, CHAS. L. Goss.

